We Are Lucky...(for now?)

After reading this article about Marin County on Pinkbike, I have been reflecting on just how fortunate we are. I went out today and rode world class, challenging mountain bike trails ten minutes from my house. Most of us on IMTB routinely access great trail systems from our homes, or after a very short commute. The thought of living like the riders depicted in the article makes me cringe, and makes me think "there but for the grace of God, go we." It may not be the grace of God however. It may be by the grace of land managers who haven't YET made all trails illegal for mt. bikes and haven't YET turned every trail into a dumbed-down bridle path. Or worse - sold all the land to housing developers.

So as I rode perfect dirt, over steep, rocky and challenging trails today on a great bike with some great like-minded dudes, and saw many others doing the same, I thought - and said aloud - "man, are we fortunate."

Then I said a friendly hi, good morning and thank you to every hiker and jogger I saw.

After reading this article about Marin County on Pinkbike, I have been reflecting on just how fortunate we are. I went out today and rode world class, challenging mountain bike trails ten minutes from my house. Most of us on IMTB routinely access great trail systems from our homes, or after a very short commute. The thought of living like the riders depicted in the article makes me cringe, and makes me think "there but for the grace of God, go we." It may not be the grace of God however. It may be by the grace of land managers who haven't YET made all trails illegal for mt. bikes and haven't YET turned every trail into a dumbed-down bridle path. Or worse - sold all the land to housing developers.

So as I rode perfect dirt, over steep, rocky and challenging trails today on a great bike with some great like-minded dudes, and saw many others doing the same, I thought - and said aloud - "man, are we fortunate."

Then I said a friendly hi, good morning and thank you to every hiker and jogger I saw.

Oh, what lucky men, we are (rip Greg Lake). Spoke to a couple rangers at the Borrego entrance to Whiting today, they were handing out handlebar bells for bikers. I asked them how big of an issue is the MTBers pissing off hikers and equestrians, how many complaints they get. They said some, not excessive, but the bells would help everyone coexist. Still, a few dumbasses can get us stereotyped and potentially trail closures come. Over the top yielding and kindness is my m.o.
BTW, was told the bells were supplied by SHARE and ASG. Good for them for making that effort

Good thing we don't have them doing this to our trails down here.....for the most part:

Before.....

After.....

Apparently the damn near paved it.

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Oh god - where was that? I have a sneaking suspicion that old hikers much prefer the removal of trip hazards so that they can have a nice gentle path through nature. They are also the ones with the time to bug land managers all day long to give them what they want. Maybe they can just put in a moving walkway so they don't have to pick up their feet at all!

Oh god - where was that? I have a sneaking suspicion that old hikers much prefer the removal of trip hazards so that they can have a nice gentle path through nature. they are also the ones with the time to bug land managers all day long to give them what they want. Maybe they can just put in a moving walkway so they don't have to pick up their feet at all!

There has been sanitizing near that level on UWC in Chantry. No quik crete but plenty of burying roots, rocks, and wooden steps. Quite a bit of bedrock removal/smoothing. I have seen several attempts to fill in the famous drop. All have mysteriously failed.

There has been sanitizing near that level on UWC in Chantry. No quik crete but plenty of burying roots, rocks, and wooden steps. Quite a bit of bedrock removal/smoothing. I have seen several attempts to fill in the famous drop. All have mysteriously failed.

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Yeah I just saw that a couple of weeks ago. I took @bobzrag there and told him about the very first uphill right from the pavement which I haven't seen in a couple of years. It had the rocks and steps removed and someone made it all smooth similar to J's pic of norcal. There was also the left hander with the steps after the rock drop that got pussified as well. WTF OVER?

I think people that are not mountain bikers will never "understand"... mountain bikers.
I think a reason why we struggle with some other trail user groups.

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I know Mikie, there is a reason why the stand up jet ski rocket was discontinued. More !
I think to add a bit to the trail, there going to need cross walks and stop signs. I just love a good sized crowd.

Sometimes I need to remind myself that the little hike most of these people are taking is a big deal-to them.
Stepping outside of their comfort zone, onto an uneven, rocky, exposed, trail. No cell coverage, Now here comes Jonny Blaze, trail manners by Red Bull, wardrobe courtesy StarWars, skidding into the corners saying "What? I got a bell...."

Sometimes I need to remind myself that the little hike most of these people are taking is a big deal-to them.
Stepping outside of their comfort zone, onto an uneven, rocky, exposed, trail. No cell coverage, Now here comes Jonny Blaze, trail manners by Red Bull, wardrobe courtesy StarWars, skidding into the corners saying "What? I got a bell...."